Parents for Parents (P4P) Program Coordinator, Natalya Kinder knows all too well how parents new to the program are feeling.

Parents for Parents provides peer mentoring for families who become involved with Child Protective Services through court outreach, education and ongoing peer support from parent allies - parents who have successfully navigated the child welfare system and who, by virtue of their life experiences, have unique credibility with birth parents in the dependency system.

Having immigrated from the Ukraine more than 20 years ago, Natalya built a life for herself in the United States, but there was a cloud of despair looming above as she was faced with cultural stigmas for marrying an American. Natalya was ostracized by her parents, leading to isolation and a downward spiral in an abusive marriage.

Struggling with addiction resulting from a need for pain management medication during her third pregnancy, Natalya had no hope, and nowhere to turn for support. On a late April day in 2013 the life of this mother of three children changed forever.

“My children were removed by child protective services (CPS) and in my culture, this is an unimaginable event,” said Natalya. “I was filled with shame, guilt and pity, with hate toward myself consuming me.” Then came hope in the form of support, including the P4P program.

According to the findings from Parents for Parents long-term evaluation, 70% of parents who participated in Dependency 101 classes through our Parents for Parents program reunified with their children - 17% more than those who do not participate.

In May of 2013, Natalya was admitted to Prosperity Wellness Center, where her healing began. During her time of reconstruction, she was introduced to shepherds of hope in the way of parent allies in the P4P program, social workers and therapists to help guide her on the journey to recovery, professional and personal reconstruction and ultimately, reunification with her children. Nine months following her entry into the program, Natalya graduated from family recovery court and was reunified with her children.

There is a strong positive correlation between peer mentoring and reunification. Cases that received 101 plus additional peer mentoring, increased reunification rates (79% of the cases reunified compared to the comparison group of 53%)- a difference of 26%.

“Through my own experiences, with the support I’ve received from peers and in the work I do with other parents struggling with dependency issues, I have learned not just to survive but to thrive, and I had found a purpose in life.”

P4P is currently active in Whatcom, Clallam, Snohomish, King, Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Grant, Pierce, Grays Harbor, Pacific, Kitsap, Spokane, Clallam, Clark and Benton/Franklin Counties. Skagit, Island and San Juan P4P is the newest program with Cowlitz, Jefferson, Kittitas, Walla Walla, and Okanogan Counties forthcoming. The full results from the long-term evaluation can be found on our website: https://www.childrenshomesociety.org/reunification

Natalya Kinder is a program coordinator for the Parents for Parents program at Family Education and Support Services.